The eponymous alchemist of Ben Jonson's quick-fire comedy is a fraud: he cannot make gold, but he does make brilliant theatre. The Alchemist is a masterpiece of wit and form about the self-delusions of greed and the theatricality of deception. This guide will be useful to a diverse assembly of students and scholars, offering fresh new ways into this challenging and fascinating play.

'The Alchemist: A Critical Reader is an excellent source for a teacher or researcher who is tackling the play and for the interested students who wish to carry their investigations of the play beyond the classroom lecture.' The Shakespeare Newsletter